31 Aug From Data Representation to Improved Health
From Data Representation to Improved Health
Standardized representations of health information serve a diversity of clinical and administrative informational needs and are used in a variety of health care contexts and settings. They support the decision making of the emergency room physician who decides to prescribe a particular antibiotic for a walk-in patient based on the comprehensive health information reflected in that patient’s electronic health record. They facilitate the epidemiologic researcher’s ability to interpret health data across multiple patients and to draw inferences from that information that can be applied practically by providers to improve outcomes. And they enable the intensive care nurse to capture a patient’s vital signs and record critical patient data throughout the day for review with the clinician to determine the plan of care.
To prepare for this discussion, you will need to reflect on the continuum from data representation to improved health and explore how health information standards support different elements of that continuum, such as clinical decision support, knowledge management, and evidenced-based best practice. You will also examine the complex relationships among classification, vocabulary, and terminology standards; data interchange standards; and health record content standards and consider how these standards are used in electronic health record applications and administrative systems.
By Day 3, post a comprehensive response to the following:
- How can you explain the relationship between the standardized representation of health information and the delivery of care to improve patient health?
Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.
By Day 5, respond to at least one of your colleagues’ postings in one or more of the following ways:
- Ask a probing question.
- Expand on the colleague’s posting with additional insight and resources.
- Offer polite disagreement or critique, supported with evidence.
In addition, you may respond as follows:
- Offer and support an opinion.
- Validate an idea with your own experience.
- Make a suggestion or comment that guides or facilitates the discussion.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of your colleagues’ comments. You are not required to post these final insights.
